[Merged] Where is HD from NTL? When? - Page 18

ntluser · 16-05-2006, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

HDMI & Component will both handle an HD signal (720p or 1080i)

Are you saying that the engineer will simply connect by the method available on your TV?

Wouldn't want a situation where the engineer turns up and says "Sorry, you have to have an HDMI connection".

Does it also mean that I will have to upgrade my VCR to accept the higher quality HDTV signals if I want to enjoy the benefits of HDTV quality on my recordings?

Neil · 16-05-2006, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntluser

Are you saying that the engineer will simply connect by the method available on your TV?

Wouldn't want a situation where the engineer turns up and says "Sorry, you have to have an HDMI connection".

Does it also mean that I will have to upgrade my VCR to accept the higher quality HDTV signals if I want to enjoy the benefits of HDTV quality on my recordings?

If you are an ntl customer (as your forum name suggests) then you will not be getting HD from ntl any time soon I'm afraid as their PVR/HD equivalent of Telewest's 'TV Drive' is not scheduled for release.

Otherwise, from what I gather, TW engineers are turning up armed with HDMI leads & Sky installers will be doing the same (although Sky HD boxes & TW boxes will run on Component in the short term)

jem · 16-05-2006, 18:00

Quote:

Does it also mean that I will have to upgrade my VCR to accept the higher quality HDTV signals if I want to enjoy the benefits of HDTV quality on my recordings?

Yes except it won't be video based. As far as I am aware the only way of recording HD programming is either using a HD PVR (i.e. Telewest's TV Drive or Sky+ HD) or something like a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD recorder (both very expesive and I don't believe will be generally available for some time. Copyright restrictions will probably mean that recording HD on an external device will be a bit problematic anyway.

ntluser · 16-05-2006, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

If you are an ntl customer (as your forum name suggests) then you will not be getting HD from ntl any time soon I'm afraid as their PVR/HD equivalent of Telewest's 'TV Drive' is not scheduled for release.

Otherwise, from what I gather, TW engineers are turning up armed with HDMI leads & Sky installers will be doing the same (although Sky HD boxes & TW boxes will run on Component in the short term)

Thanks for that, Neil.

Looks like I had better start looking for a component cable,

BTW, I thought NTL were adopting the Telewest HD STB with the three tuners.

Bob · 16-05-2006, 20:41

They are. It's just going to take longer to launch on NTL

Chrysalis · 16-05-2006, 21:52

Ntl seemingly do a lot of things on trial make sure they soak up publicity for it but are always behind on actual rollouts. The samsung boxes were they manufactured or just a pending order?

Neil · 16-05-2006, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntluser

Thanks for that, Neil.

Looks like I had better start looking for a component cable,

BTW, I thought NTL were adopting the Telewest HD STB with the three tuners.

Do yourself a favour & get an HDMI cable-Component will get phased out at some point as it carries no encryption.

It will work to start with, but over time will not.

orangebird · 17-05-2006, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Of Fools

ntl did have a HD product in the pipeline very much pre-merger!

From this very site:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...tas-mpeg-4-pvr

---------- Post edited at 16:07 ---------- Previous post was at 16:02 ----------

ntl's MPEG4 PVR was already on trial before the merger but these trials were suspended by the ex-Telewest CTO post-merger.

Well well, the silence in response to this post is absolutely deafening....

Neil · 17-05-2006, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

Well well, the silence in response to this post is absolutely deafening....

No silence from me.

So-ntl (by far the larger of the 2 companies) decided to place their PVR/HD box 'on hold'...

Can someone please explain to me why that was?

If they had a great product that was on track etc, why has the TW PVR/HD service taken priority?

[Edit]-Just FYI, that news item is 6 months old.

Why did they bother telling people they had an HD service "coming soon" when they knew they would be merging soon?

orangebird · 17-05-2006, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

No silence from me.

So-ntl (by far the larger of the 2 companies) decided to place their PVR/HD box 'on hold'...

Can someone please explain to me why that was?

Ask the CTO of Telewest - it was his decision

Quote:

If they had a great product that was on track etc, why has the TW PVR/HD service taken priority?

Again, ask the CTO of Telewest

Quote:

[Edit]-Just FYI, that news item is 6 months old.

Why did they bother telling people they had an HD service "coming soon" when they knew they would be merging soon?

Because they maybe thought that it would be 'coming soon' until the CTO of Telwest vetoed it?

Neil · 17-05-2006, 10:31

Hmmm-could it have been that the ntl box was nowhere near ready or good enough (likely)?

If the ntl box was 'good to go' they would have used it-what does it say that they went with Telewest's box & not ntl's?

Let's face it, ntl have never really led any market they have been in, they follow where others lead.

Telewest have long since been an example of how to run a DTV/BB/Telco.

Their products have always been superior to ntl's-just look at how ntl have now uncapped' the BB to follow Telewest.

Also-let's not forget how ntl were forced to follow Telewest's lead in their BB pricing (when 1 & 2Mb were 1st launched)

And not forgetting ntl upping the speed of their broadband products after Telewest had done it.

Oh, and let's not forget that Telewest have a clear & transparrent roadmap that details their upgrades from analogue to digital-where is ntl's?

ntl's motto should be:

ntl-others lead, we follow.

The only reason that ntl's PVR/HD box was ditched was because it was inferior to TW's.

Not only that, but the TW box was already out & working.

Not a very impressive CV for a company the size of ntl that is supposedly at the forefront of technology is it?

Bob · 17-05-2006, 10:40

An MPEG4 box inferior to and MPEG2 box? Weren't you the one hounding them for ditching that? And you have hit the nail on the head... it was dropped because TW's had already launched theirs and there was no point working on two different technologies. And whether or not it was 'working' is debatable

NTL did actually instigate the very first round of broadband speed upgrades. Telewest followed their lead.

orangebird · 17-05-2006, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Hmmm-could it have been that the ntl box was nowhere near ready or good enough (likely)?

If the ntl box was 'good to go' they would have used it-what does it say that they went with Telewest's box & not ntl's?

All in your opinion of course. Have you emailed your frinds at Telewest to ask like I suggested? The way you're licking boot polish, I assume you know them all....

Quote:

Let's face it, ntl have never really led any market they have been in, they follow where others lead.

Telewest have long since been an example of how to run a DTV/BB/Telco.

Of course, because Telewest don't have any unhappy customers, do they?

Quote:

Their products have always been superior to ntl's-just look at how ntl have now uncapped' the BB to follow Telewest.

It's not 'following' Neil, it's getting products in line post merger.

Quote:

Also-let's not forget how ntl were forced to follow Telewest's lead in their BB pricing (when 1 & 2Mb were 1st launched)

They weren't forced. ntl and Telewest weren't in direct competition, so how could they be forced?

Quote:

And not forgetting ntl upping the speed of their broadband products after Telewest had done it.

I note how you conveniently omit to mention the FACT that ntl actually announced they were upping the speed limits first, and Telewest followed suit. Of course, Telewest finished their upgrades first, but then having a network and customer base that wasn't even half the size of ntls could factor into that, no?

Quote:

Oh, and let's not forget that Telewest have a clear & transparrent roadmap that details their upgrades from analogue to digital-where is ntl's?

I don't know, have you asked if they have one?

Quote:

ntl's motto should be:

ntl-others lead, we follow.

The only reason that ntl's PVR/HD box was ditched was because it was inferior to TW's.

Really? Source? Proof?

Quote:

Not only that, but the TW box was already out & working.

Not a very impressive CV for a company the size of ntl that is supposedly at the forefront of technology is it?

That's YOUR interpretation Neil, which is your prerogative. If you weren't so damn biased, your post might be worth more than a fart in a thunderstorm.

Tristan · 17-05-2006, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Hmmm-could it have been that the ntl box was nowhere near ready or good enough (likely)?

...

The only reason that ntl's PVR/HD box was ditched was because it was inferior to TW's.

Not only that, but the TW box was already out & working.

Actually, as discussed earlier in this thread, the specs for the NTL box were better than the TV Drive, as it could use MPEG4 as well as MPEG2.

The reason it was ditched was because TVDrive was already in the market, and it was decided that developing a different box that did essentially the same thing (albeit with added MPEG4) would be a waste of R&D money.

And of course, far be it from me to suggest that TV Drive was rushed to market to ensure it was out before the merger, forcing the new company to go with the Telewest solution... I mean, it's not like there were any teething troubles or anything...

Bob · 17-05-2006, 11:13

Although lets be far Tristan this is TW, they never do anything wrong do they?

www.telewestinfo.co.uk is worth a look because the site owner reviews the TVDrive regularly and discusses the problems